Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Peters released the following statement after President Trump’s second State of the Union Address:
“For the first time since I came to Congress in 2013, I did not attend the State of the Union address. President Trump has shown complete disdain for Congress, the laws of our land, the Constitution, and the office of the Presidency. This cannot be the norm, and I chose not to be a prop in his political rally.
“During the campaign, he promised to lower costs on day one and create a “Golden Age” for America. Yet over the last 13 months, his policies and self-serving ego have broken those promises. California families paid $2,355 more for everyday items last year due to inflation. Energy costs have risen 13 percent nationwide. 10 million Americans are losing their health coverage due to President Trump and Republicans’ Medicaid cuts and refusal to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, including hundreds of thousands of San Diegans. We continue to lose international friends and make new enemies. He is using the White House to enrich himself, his family, and his allies, having earned at least $1.4 billion in the last year and trading presidential pardons for personal favors. President Trump, with the help of Congressional Republicans, has turned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency into a private, unaccountable army that targets American citizens. The American people deserve a president that cares about them and a government committed to advancing the interests of every person.
“I’ll work with anyone to solve problems, but Republicans in Congress need to remember that we work with, not for, the President. We must work to make life safer, more affordable, and better for the American people. We must act as a check on the Executive Branch the way our Constitution intended. And we must get serious about tackling the very real challenges we face, not continue to ignore or dismiss the economic pain and overall disunion people are feeling.”
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